Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce The Big Apple, a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.

"Who ordered the clean glass?" is a classic restaurant joke of the late Bronx-born comedian Myron Cohen. It's said to have started at the Stage Deli (Seventh Avenue in the West 50s). The Stage Deli was founded by Max Asnas, the "Cornbeef Confucius" who was known for similar sayings.

Cohen began as a salesman in the New York City garment industry. When calling on customers, before showing his samples, he would tell a joke to put everyone at ease and establish a friendly mood. Cohen’s jokes were often more popular than his garment samples, and his customers urged him to become a professional comedian.

He was a nightclub entertainer in the 1950s and 1960s, recording several live record albums and also frequently appearing on TV variety programs such as The Ed Sullivan Show.

15 November 1959, Oakland (CA) Tribune, "My Favorite Jokes" by Myron Cohen, Parade magazine, pg. 26:
THREE GENTLEMEN were eating in a restaurant the other afternoon. One, noticing an unclean glass on his table, called the waiter over, handed it to him, and said, "Make sure my glass is clean." A few seconds later the waiter returned "Which one of you guys," he asked, "ordered the clean glass?"

24 March 1960, Daily Intelligencer (Doylestown, PA), pg. 4, col. 5:
Myron Cohen, the silk salesman who become one of our top comedians, tells all about Max Asnas, the Cornbeef Confucius, in his hilarious act at the International. He claims a customer asked Max why he didn't have a parking lot in connection with his restaurant. Max snorted: "Jerk! If I had a parking lot, I wouldn't need a restaurant!" He also maintains that a waiter at Max's Stage Delicatessen was heard asking a table customer: "Which one of you ordered a clean glass?"

3 November 1976, New York Times, "Myron Cohen Puts Punch Into Traditional Anecdotes In Stint at Rainbow Grill," pg. 55:
Well, one exception maybe, because it's in the public domain. Three men go into a coffee shop and order glasses of milk. One man says, "Be sure it's a clean glass." Waitress returns with the order, asks, "Which one ordered the clean glass?" Mr. Cohen told it better.

Myron Cohens best joke=two fishermen met one day . Ist man said, I went fishing and caught a 600lb herring- 2nd man said, I also went fishing and when I pulled up my hook, at the end of my hook was a lantern and the light was still burning. the Ist fisherman said, tell you what Ill do, Ill take off 600lbs from the herring and you blow out the light.

Posted by Saul Rothstein on 11/18 at 11:39 PM

A Brooklyn Italian goes into his local bank to negotiate a loan. The Vice President advises him the the Lone Arranger is out to lunch. The Brooklyn Italian replies, “Well if the Loan Arranger is out can I at least talk to Tonto”?